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Cialis increasing testosterone

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User

Posted 24 Aug 2015 at 19:32

Hello all. I have recently found out the other half has been taking Cialis without my knowledge. The GP prescribed them. I, personally don't think he needs them, but erections are not as good as before his brachytherapy, but still "works" perfectly well. I told him to stop taking them until he sees his consultant for advice next month. Also until they are really necessary.

Firstly they say not to be taken with alpha blockers and he is tamsulosin twice a day, but also after researching Cialis on the internet it says they reduce oestrogen which in turn encourages the body to make more testosterone. Has anyone else researched this? I know it is often prescribed after prostate removal. Am I over thinking things? I thought that increasing levels of testosterone is bad with prostate cancer. Any thoughts please?

User

Posted 24 Aug 2015 at 22:02

As far as the testosterone issue goes, I think you are over-thinking things. The proportion of men with prostate cancer who take Cialis on the advice of their consultant, ED nurse or GP will be huge.

I assume the GP was aware that OH already has tamsulosin and had given some advice about the signs & indicators of low blood pressure etc - was he told to stop taking them if he felt dizzy? Is it the 2.5mg dose which is less likely to cause BP problems than the 10 or 20mg tablets? Perhaps a call to the GP practice to confirm that the GP knowlingly prescribed both drugs - or a check with the pharmacist - would put your mind at rest.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 24 Aug 2015 at 22:11

Hello, yes gp said take them at a different time of day, though other half had forgotten and swallowing them all down together. He's not taking them now, I think he should wait until really needed. I worry about medication and side effects. Also whether they will stop working, once you take that sort of thing there will be no going back. I will ask the consultant about the testosterone thing. But wondered if anyone else had researched. Yes 2.5 dose. Thanks again.

User

Posted 24 Aug 2015 at 23:28

If he asked the GP for help, he must feel he needs them and the psychological impact of worrying about whether it is going to let him down can be huge and hard to ever repair - I wouldn't be discouraging him, to be honest. Cialis is not a 'no going back' kind of drug at low dose and if he believes it helps then he may avoid bigger problems later.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 25 Aug 2015 at 06:21

Ok. Thanks for your advice. When I read about cialis online it said that studies of men taking the 5mg showed they had much higher levels of testosterone than they did before taking them. Apparently they reduce the oestrogen which in turn encourages more testosterone. (Did I put that in my first post? I can't see it on my phone) after reading this I naturally thought perhaps they are not the best thing with prostate cancer.

Things went downhill for the OH after the biopsy. The consultant said it can't effect things but it seems to. He had prostatitis after. Infact a year later he has only just come off anti biotiics. He's been taken them on and off all year. It still hurts when he sits for a while. But he's trying to manage without. Things just deflated slightly, but it still works perfectly well, making me feel they are not needed until he really has ED. the cialis had such a big effect, (he took for 10 days) this being another reason I feel they were not needed. But it's his body I guess he should do what he wants.

I am hoping perhaps he can reduce a tamsulosin as he takes it twice daily. He also takes one called micrabegon (I think that's how to spell) he still has painful burning on his first wee in the morning. He suffered with this a lot since the biopsy. I don't know what effect tamsulosin has on this. On the rare occasion he does get up in the night he doesn't get the burning in the morning. So it only happens after a very full bladder.

Anyway, that all wasn't anything to do with my original question. Thanks for reading and replying.

User

Posted 25 Aug 2015 at 06:45

Hello sjtb

Firstly I know our men get anxious about regaining their sexual prowess post procedure and I do understand that fear but, your other half isn't allowing for the fact that he is only 7 or 8 months down the line from when the seeds went in.

It's true that the seeds are way past their original potency and that symptoms should by now have improved but he was very unfortunate to get the prostatitis and cystitis so they will have added to his body's trauma and it may well still be healing.

It's a shame he didn't discuss his decision to ask the GP for Cialis but maybe he didn't want you to fret about possible side effects and he was hoping to surprise you!!?
My husband was also on Tamsulosin post Brachytherapy and despite that was also supplied with Sildenafil (VIagra) so it isn't that unusual.

Cialis lasts longer in the body than Sildenafil (30 hours as against 3 ? something like that) and I wasn't happy for my other half to take Cialis for that reason.

He isn't happy having to take anything at all!! and he is nearly 75 as against your husband being in his 50s. He does take them though, just to ensure we have a better result than without. Having said that we are a year and 2 months post procedure, and even at his age he occasionally surprises us both by a spontaneous and very "usable" erection.
Gives his ego a real boost!

The dose your husband is taking is a low one and I really wouldn't fret about it. By all means check with the GP or pharmacist as Lyn suggests but if he doesn't usually suffer from BP problems then try not to worry about it but let him try and find something that gives him back some semblance of normality.

As time goes on and he gets further away from the procedure, he may well find on occasion that he is almost back to his "normal".
He has things against him from a recovery point of view, what with having a very physically demanding job that sometimes results in lack of sleep as well as the hard work and being unhappy with his intimate life isn't going to help.

Was he given the choice of drug or was it the GP who suggested the Cialis ?

I assume he isn't taking the Cialis every day but just when he wants to guarantee a "loving event" ?

As Lyn says, they are not a drug you have to keep taking once started, unlike statins which you are supposed to stay on once you start them.
Men who have had their prostates removed and had some nerve sparing are prescribed Cialis daily as a recovery aid (lower dose admittedly) and I'm sure that wouldn't happen if there were dangerous possible side effects.

Try not to worry too much, let him do what makes him happy, at least until he sees his consultant when you can discuss the matter in full with him.

Edited by member 25 Aug 2015 at 06:49 | Reason: Not specified

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 25 Aug 2015 at 07:19

Hello, thanks for your reply. He was prescribed 2.5ml every day. I would much prefer him to have one to take say once a week as things are usable now, then at least he can still get natural erections the rest of the time. Then if he wants a stronger one once a week or so then he can take a pill. I just think taking something daily now is not such a good idea, especially as with brachytherapy they say it gets worse over time. He went to see the GP about more antibiotics for the prostatitis. The GP gave him one more lot, he also told the GP that erections still work but not as good as they were, hence bringing the prescription home. We did discuss them, they say not to take if you have indigestion, he takes prescription indigestion tablets daily, also says about the alpha blockers, so we both decided that as things still work ok he would wait until he's seen the consultant.

It was a few months on I suddenly realised "the old chap" was up morning, noon and night which made me realise he was on the cialis.

The fact they have such a dramatic effect makes me think he doesn't need them. But he's always had a much higher sex drive than me. Even though I am 15 years younger.

Since stopping taking the cialis things are worse, which shows my theory of once you start taking things like that there is no going back. Whether it is just a mental thing or not I don't know. I suppose you start relying on them. He did complain of a headache when he was on them, but was adamant it wasn't the cialis. I've suggested he try them again but he doesn't want to now until he sees the consultant. But yes, I think something stronger when needed would be a much better idea. Then at least natural erections will still happen.

Thanks for reply.

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